Fri., 10:18am: Guardian ends bid to force Amish girl into chemo

February 14, 2014

A judge in Ohio says a court-appointed guardian can drop her attempt to force an 11-year-old Amish girl with leukemia to resume chemotherapy.

The ruling is a big step toward bringing an end to a months-long fight between Sarah Hershberger's family and a hospital. The fight began when her parents decided to halt the treatments because they feared chemotherapy was killing her.

The northeast Ohio judge issued the decision Thursday. It helps clear the way for Sarah and her parents to return to their farm in Medina County after they went into hiding more than four months ago to avoid the chemotherapy.

The guardian says she dropped her efforts to force Sarah into chemotherapy because it was impossible to make medical decisions for the girl after she went into hiding.